It has traditionally been a favoured ingredient of many herbal remedies, and of it was said "he who has sanicle and self-heal needs neither physician nor surgeon".

[1][2]: 342 Sanicula europea L. grows to 60 cm high and is glabrous with coarsely toothed leaves.

[6][5] Filtered leaf extracts of sanicula europaea have shown some antiviral properties, inhibiting the replication of type 2 Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV-2).

[7] Infusions of sanicle, made with water or wine, were commonly used in France to cure dysentery, ulcers and kidney injuries.

[8] To this list Culpeper added that sanicle heals tumours in any part of the body, and alleviates gonorrhoea, bowel pain and more.